Hands down, the biggest news for this week coming from Microsoft would be the flub by their CEO, Steve Ballmer, at a conference, saying that a "new Xbox 360" will be released in 2010. Only to have his VPs and Directors come rushing forth to do some damage control before all hell breaks loose from disappointed fans who have been waiting and wishing and praying for a new console.

It was a dark cloud that hung above the Xbox 360 state of affairs, casting heavy shadows on other news that came out, though not necessarily miniscule by themselves. See what  I mean below in this week's Warrior recap.

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Gaming:

• Ubisoft is keen on keeping Splinter Cell: Conviction a Microsoft game saying it's never gonna come on the PS3. Link
• Street Fighter IV's sequel is 'practically confirmed,' so said Capcom. Link
• Left 4 Dead
• There's always something cool you can do with those Map Editors, I knew it. Just like this RE 3 Raccoon City-inspired map. Link
• But ESRB did not like the fingers that were apparently gnawed at by zombies in their new L4D2 poster. Link
• The ESRB does not only frown upon chewed up fingers. Even names that they are apparently reminded of bodily fluids are also a no-no. Like "Spunk" in Overlord II. Link
• Pre-order Halo 3: ODST, get a playable Sgt. Johnson for the multiplayer mode. Link.
• I imagine that isn't such a hard sell, since Nielsen reports that it's got the biggest purchase intent post-E3.  Link
• The FightSticks for Street Fighter IV are back at Capcom Store! Link
• So why was Ghostbusters: The Video Game better on the Xbox 360? Link
• Uh-oh? Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 development started only before E3 2009. Link

Online:

• This doesn't always happen, heck, in fact, it's NEVER happened. A DLC street date's been broken. Making history: Fallout 3's Point Lookout. Link
• Xbox Originals now officially Games on Demand, downloadable 360 games coming in August. Link
• Bionic Commando's getting difficulty tweaks. Link
• Surf's.. down? Big Surf Island pulled from Marketplace. Link
• You can get Gold XBL subscriptions for only a dollar if you're a Silver member. Link
• The scheduled maintenance commenced, and then the problems came. Link
• And MS is still not allowing 'Gay' on your profiles, except for Gay Tony. Link

 
Whoopsie.

Industry:

• There will be a new Xbox 360 by 2010. Whoops, no, sorry, our CEO was wrong.
• Steve Ballmer announces "new Xbox 360" will be released in 2010 Link
• Aaron Greenberg clarifies too: There will be no new console Link
• Major Nelson clarifies too: No new console, we're not even halfway through this cycle Link
• It seems that the clarification must come from the guy who made the faulty comments. It's Steve Ballmer's turn to clarify the "new Xbox 360" Link
  
• And we thought it was clear to begin with when they said Natal will run on 360 so no new console investments are needed. Link
• By the way, John Schappert has also packed bags to move to EA. Link
• They also confirmed 512MB Xbox Arcade, now shipping as standard models, Link which started as a rumor first, by the way. Link
• And Realtime Worlds admitted at being 'miffed' with MS over Crackdown 2. Link
• Shane Kim: We've reached a level third-party playing field with MGS: Rising Link
• The "Halo Killer" was also sentenced to life imprisonment. Link

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What did I tell you? There sure were a lot that went on for our Xbox 360 blog didn't it? Oh, it's just more exciting this way.

Keep up with us, there'll be more next week.

Keep jumpin'!